Industrial designs and models

Q1 : Where to file a request for design or industrial model

Where to file a request for design or industrial model

• The filing must be carried out with:
• The Moroccan Industrial and Commercial Property Office (" Office Marocain de la Propriété Industrielle et Commerciale ", OMPIC) in Casablanca , Addresses: ROUTE DE NOUASSEUR R.S. 114, km 9,500 - SIDI MAAROUF (Près de lISCAE), CASABLANCA, Morocco
• of the 28 regional offices ("Delegations") of the Ministry of Trade and Industry

Q2 : is contained in a request for registration of a design or industrial model

A request for registration of a design or industrial model contains:

• a request presented on a form established by OMPIC
• graphic or photographic reproductions in three copies,
• a short description in three copies (if necessary);
• The agents proxy signed by the holder of the design or industrial model (if necessary, this should be compulsory for artificial persons and non-residents)

Q3 : Quels sont les droits à payer pour protéger un dessin ou modèle industriel

Les droits sont exigibles pour une période de 5 ans, renouvelable 2 fois.
Un droit de 600Dh (comprenant 20% de TVA) est exigible pour chaque tranche de 1 à 5 modèles.

Q4 : What are the fees to be paid to protect a design or industrial model

The fees are to be paid for a 5-year period, renewable twice.
A 600 Moroccan Dirhams fee (about US$ 71) (including 20% VAT) is to be paid for each tranche of 1 to 5 models.

Q5 : What is the deadline available to regularize a request for a design or industrial model

A 3-month deadline is granted to the filing person or company or to his agent to regularize a request for design or industrial model. After the notification of the expiry of the 3-month period, another two-month deadline is granted to the filing person or company or to his agent to supplement the request, by complying with Article 14.1 of Law 17/97 as modified and supplemented by Law 31/05.

Q6 : are the conditions to renew a design or industrial model

A design or industrial model is registered for a 5-year period, renewable twice, that is to say, a maximum 15-year duration.
You must ask for the renewal within the 6-months period preceding the end of the validity period. However you benefit from a 6-month grace period after the expiry of the validity period of your design or industrial model.

Q7 : How to check that a design or industrial model is new

You may carry out a search for prior patents and applications by consulting OMPICs Moroccan data base http://distant.ompic.org.ma/search/modele.jsppage=./dessins_modeles/criteresDm.jsp , or the international database http://www.wipo.int/ipdl/fr/search/hague/search-struct.jsp

Searches are based on key words concerning the object, or the codes of the Locarno classification. For more information, go to: http://www.wipo.int/classifications/fulltext/locarno8/frmn01.htm .

Q8 : Why do people talk about cumulative protection for a design or industrial model

You may give waive your rights on a design or industrial model. To that end, you send a waiver request to OMPIC (D5 form), accompanied by a special proxy for waiver.